What is Questionnaire Day?
Psychology Questionnaire Day (Q-Day) is an administrative mechanism (a one-day per quarter event) for efficient collection of large amounts of questionnaire data, and for recruitment of research participants. It involves administration of two types of self-report inventories to students in PSYCH 101 classes (Introduction to Psychology). Research questionnaires are designed to collect data on a variety of theoretically and/or practically relevant topics. Each research questionnaire is specific to a particular study, and its completion provides data for that study. Screening questionnaires are designed to identify students having particular characteristics (e.g., gender, ethnicity). They are used to recruit students for participation in studies conducted as part of the Psychology Subject Pool. (Note: Not all Psychology Subject Pool studies require preliminary screening of participants; but for those that do, screening questionnaires are administered as a part of Q-Day.)
Procedures
Who has access to Q-Day? Psychology faculty (including postdoctoral research associates) and graduate students may utilize Q-Day. Psychology adjunct faculty have access on an availability basis (i.e., during quarters in which there is sufficient student enrollment in PSYCH 101). However, non-psychology graduate students and postdoctoral research associates working with adjunct faculty do not have access to Q-Day.
Q-Day is conducted in PSYCH 101 classes in the early portion of the quarter (typically during the second week; regular academic year only). A Q-Day designation is included in the class schedule (course syllabus). Student participation is voluntary, and it has no effect on their course grade. Also, students are free to withdraw from participation at any time without penalty.
Q-Day is conducted by the Human Subjects Coordinator, with assistance from researchers whose questionnaires are administered. Every research study/questionnaire must be individually approved by a UW Human Subjects Review Committee, or it must receive administrative approval for Certification of Exemption from the Human Subjects Division. Consequently, the questionnaires must be accompanied by a consent form, or by an Information Statement. Also, some projects have signed consent/assent waived.
Risks
The risks of completing individual questionnaires varies, but only questionnaires that have received Human Subjects approval as minimal risk or exempt are administered. Minimal risk is defined as risk not exceeding that normally encountered in daily life. However, in some cases, the questionnaires deal with sensitive aspects of the participant’s own behavior, such as illegal conduct, drug use, sexual behavior, use of alcohol, or various aspects of family behavior. The nature of any specific risk, stress, invasion of privacy, or discomfort associated with a specific research project is covered in the consent form or in the Information Statement for that questionnaire. A document entitled “Information About Q-Day: Information for Students” directs students how to proceed, if they believe that any aspect of Q-Day is being conducted in an inappropriate or unsafe fashion.
Benefits
Students who complete questionnaires on Q-Day may benefit from learning more about the research process and gain experience in this type of psychological inquiry. Relative to screening questionnaires, those who have the characteristics sought for particular studies gain access to those studies.